GOPALGANJ, July 16: Teasel gourd (kakrol) cultivation has started gaining popularity in Suktail union under Sadar upazila of Gopalganj with the growers making good profit from the crop.
The growers are now cultivating the crop commercially. The main Teasel gourd cultivating areas of Gopalganj Sadar Upazila are Gopinathpur, Suktail, Chandradighalia, Borfa, Jalalabad, Haridaspur and Sahapur.
According to Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Gopalganj official sources said, a total of 20 hectares of land have been brought under Teasel gourd cultivation with production target at 106 tonnes in Goapalganj Sadar Upazila this year.
Of them 6 hectares (30 local bighas) in Suktail union areas of Sadar Upazila, where about 200 farmers involved in farming. Those farmers are benefiting well from its produce. As a result many marginal and small farmers in this region have changed their fate by growing Teasel gourd, sources said.
Md. Jakir Sikder (50) of village Kutibari under Suktail union of Sadar Upazila in the district told the FE on Sunday especially small and marginal farmers are more benefiting by Teasel gourd farming in this region. He cultivated Teasel gourd origin 'halud tempu' on 40 decimal of land this season and already earned Tk above 40,000 in last one month.
He further said, especially he earned a good profit recently on the holy month of Ramadan from its produce. He added, he sold it (Teasel gourd) continuing till month of Ashwin (Bangla) and I can get more profit of Tk 0.1 million from it if the weather condition is remain unchanged.
Fala Sheikh (55), another farmer of same village of Sktail union under Sadar Upazila, he cultivated Teasel gourd origin "local variety' on 13 decimal of land in this rainy season. He has already started its harvest for sale to the market, now the market price is satisfactory. One kilogramme of Teasel gourd is being selling at the rate of Tk 30 to Tk 35 per kg. The condition of its growth is satisfactory.
Ranzit Biswas, Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer (SAAO), Kutibari block under Suktail union of Sadar Upazila told the FE, Teasel gourd farming is excitement among the farmers in this region because it spending cost is small but return is big and farmers can harvest it in a short duration.
